European journal of public health
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Eur J Public Health · Jun 2004
Comparative StudyDemand and supply for psychological help in general practice in different European countries: access to primary mental health care in six European countries.
The general practitioner is usually the first health care contact for mental problems. The position of a general practitioner may vary between health care systems, depending on the referral system (gatekeepers versus directly accessible specialists), presence of fixed lists and the payment system. This may influence patients' expectations and requests for help and GPs' performance. In this paper the effects of working in different health care systems on demand and supply for psychological help were examined. ⋯ Health care system characteristics do affect GPs' performance in psycho-social care.